Bathsheba
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Anton Smit: Kindred Forms of Resonance
Written by: Kathleen Thomas
"Late yestreen I saw the new moone lie, Wi the auld moone in hir arme…” he bellows low with a feigned Scottish accent, tool in hand and a twinkle in his eye. Spoken verse, the echoes of emotive lyrics and the rasping of sculptures in progress are customary sounds emitted from the studio. Larger than life, Anton Smit is the embodiment of poetry, a apt term for this sculptor, derived from the Greek for “making.” A self-taught artist, Anton forms his own language through sculpture, the manifestation of his passion for expression and his profound Faith.
Human form is of constant fascination, and a reoccurring theme of Anton’s sculpture. His perfectly exaggerated proportions, elegant lines and intuitive marks are evidence of his ongoing search for the fundamental nature of humanity and divine intervention. The viewer completes the circuit of energy Anton invokes in every piece, drawing on the power and mystery of asking the right questions.
Smit’s sculpture is on permanent display at the Pietersburg and Pretoria Art Museums and in major art collections around the world, including prominence in the Delaire, Graff Collection and the Anton Rupert/Rembrandt Foundation in Stellenbosch. Anton Smit is one of South Africa's most established sculptors. International recognition came during 1990 through exhibitions in Rome and Milan, an invitation to exhibit in New York and Hong Kong as well as a return exhibition in Italy in 1993. Showings have followed in Bonn, Washington, Singapore and Köln.
His latest endeavor is the Anton Smit Sculpture Park. The three-hectare grounds are situated on the northern side of the Bronkhorstspruit Dam, on a plateau overlooking the water. Amongst the backdrop of natural limestone formations, the manicured lawns and succulent gardens, the Park makes for a lovely environment to view the expansive collection of monumental sculptures and installations. The Park is a destination of creativity attracting tourists and art buyers. It expands the traditional confines of a museum, ensuring a truly unique and inspiring experience. It is only 40 minutes from Pretoria and 60 minutes from Johannesburg, but a world away.
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